The owner of 66 caps in the Polish national team joined the Russian giants, Spartak Moscow, on a free transfer.
The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) confirmed that defender Maciej Rybus will not be considered for the 2022 World Cup.
Rybus was dropped after joining the most successful club of the Russian Premier League, Spartak Moscow. Interestingly, he defected after being released by another Russian club and city rival, Lokomotiv Moscow.
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Choosing to stay in Moscow, Rybus is faced with a dilemma because his wife is a Russian citizen who lives in the nation’s capital. Poland is a staunch ally of Kyiv and has been one of Ukraine’s biggest financial backers since the Russian invasion on 24 February.
“The coach of the Polish national team, Czeslaw Michniewicz, has spoken with Maciej Rybus, who is currently living in Poland, after the training camp ended last week,” reads PZPN’s official release, Monday (20/6).
“The coach explained to the player that due to his club’s current situation, he will not be called up for training camp in September and will not be considered for the squad for the World Cup in Qatar,” it continued.
Rybus made his debut with the Polish national team since 2009. The 32-year-old defender was also included in the White-Red squad at the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020, and 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
Poland qualify for the 2022 World Cup via pathway play-off. Robert Lewandowski et al were scheduled to face Russia in the first match, but they were declared victorious WO [Walk-Over] after the opponent was dropped by FIFA due to the invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Rybus was absent due to testing positive for Covid-19 as Poland beat Sweden 2-0 in the final play-off to confirm tickets to Qatar, last March.
Poland is in Group C at the World Cup later this year along with Argentina, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
